The Purple Gang were originally a songwriting jug band formed in Stockport, Cheshire but quickly absorbed into the flower power, psychedelic, London underground scene circa 1967. Signed to Transatlantic Records and managed/produced by the now legendary Joe Boyd, Purple Gang became known for their seismic stomper and now mini classic Granny Takes a Trip, which featured piano, mandolin, guitar, washboard and kazoos. This became an underground favourite but was banned by the BBC (assuming the title to be a reference to LSD plus the fact that the band's lead singer at the time, Pete Walker, was nicknamed Lucifer) and scheduled TV appearances, radio plays and USA recording deals were all cancelled, despite the fact that the Gang frequently performed alongside the greats of the period at the best of venues.

The Gang argued and split up in frustration at the lack of progress and support caused by the lethal ban. In 1968 the record company contract forced the band to produce their one and only album called The Purple Gang Strikes.

The Gang reappeared in 1969 as a full electric band and quickly re-established itself as a college/university hall favourite, but strangely no record company seemed interested in signing the band.

The Purple Gang faded into obscurity for the next 25 years but in 1998 founder Joe Beard decided that Purple Gang should live on and wrote a whole new set of songs, reforming the band with three new members to record and play live gigs again.